Patterns
BARCODE - varied stripe widths, not to be confused with Irregular stripes
IRREGULAR STRIPES- uneven edge stripe
PINSTRIPE - Thin stripes
TICKING - thin stripes on either side of a larger stripe.
CHEVRON - or Zigzag stripe. Ancient pattern, earliest found in Knossos (Greek) pottery
HERRINGBONE - Dates back to Ancient Egypt. Looks like skeleton of herring fish.
FRET PATTERN - interlocking, geometric patterns. AKA Greek Key.
GREEK KEY - common ancient Greek motif.
HONEYCOMB - bzzzzzzzz
TRELLIS - Pattern woven in appearance, Latin for “thread”
LATTICE - similar to Trellis, but incorporates right angles or a crisscross pattern.
SCROLL - Any pattern with spiral lines, like iron scrollwork.
NAUTICAL ROPE or KNOT PATTERN - It’s the pattern of the sea.
HOUNDSTOOTH- Pattern Scottish Lowland in origin. Caused by four dark threads and four light threads being woven together. Small versions of it can be called “Puppytooth”
CHECK(ER) - Scottish in origin. Different checks was associated with a regional area in Scotland as opposed to Clan area like Tartan (plaid).
HARLEQUIN (check) - Check pattern worn by European comic characters from the 1580’s forward. Generally high contrast colors in a diamond pattern.
GINGHAM CHECK - small check pattern, usually associated with Farmhouse. Imported to England from Malay in the 17th century as a stripe pattern. Name derived from Malay word “genggang” which means Stripe. Not to be confused with Gangnam style.
PLAID - English word for “Tartan” (scottish plaid). Derived from Scottish plaid patterns
TARTAN - Scottish Plaid. Each Scottish clan would identify with different tartans. Usually darker and multi color
ARGYLE - as most plaids based off Scottish clan tartan. This is derived from the Campbell Clan in Argyll.
POLKA DOTS - Not related to Polka dancers besides the print became popular when Polka was also in vogue.
BULLSEYE - Concentric circles
BEAD & REEL - Circular pattern with a thin rod connection each circle. Used a lot in traditional architecture. Also popularized in midcentury pattern design.
OGEE - Onion shaped pattern. Originated from architecture (ogee shaped arches).
SCALE - Looks like fish scales.
ARABESQUE - Arab inspired floral or geometric pattern.
PALMETTE (or anthemion) - Radiating fan shape leaves
SUZANI - Traditional Persian pattern, but in modern anything derived from the traditional Persian pattern.
FLORAL - Any print with flowers.
JACOBEAN- Victorian floral based on traditional embroidery patterns.
LIBERTY STYLE FLORAL - small dense flowers from Art Noveau period similar to Calico and Millefleur
MILLEFLEUR - Means “1000 flowers”, Very traditional looking small flowers design. Originates from medieval tapestries.
PAISLEY - Persian origin. Drop shape vegetable motif. AKA “Persian Pickle” or “Welsh Pears”
FLEUR DE LIS - 3 or 4 petal lily. Super French symbol. ⚜
QUATREFOIL - Flower motif with four petals. Originated from architecture.
BARBED QUATREFOIL - A quatrefoil variant that incorporates a square shape or "barbs"
CARTOUCHE - Ornate frame.
DAMASK - Highly ornate pattern. Middle ages in origin. Originated from Damascus. If woven it is completely reversible because it only uses one thread each direction.
BROCATELLE - French Damask variant, embroidered satin or twill high relief pattern.
TOILE or Toile de Jouy- Usually two color pattern of elaborate repeated pastoral scene.
CHINOISERIE - East + West, Western appropriation of Eastern style and motif.
ANIMAL PRINT - Any print derived from an animal.
CAMOFLAUGE (CAMO) - so furniture can blend into the environment
OBJECT PRINT - Any print with a recognizable object printed over and over.
IKAT - Traditional dyeing technique by bundling fabric before dyeing. It usually creates an ogee shaped pattern.
BATIK - Hand dyed with wax resist. Similar to Ikat.
OMBRE - Gradual change of color (gradient)
VARIEGATED - multiple, slowly changing colors
FAUX BOIS - the illusion of being made of another material - usually wood or other natural motifs.
MOIRE - Ripple weave giving shimmery effect
MATELAUSSE - Faux embossed or raised
PIQUE - more of a texture than a pattern. Small even knobby texture on woven fabric.
TOSSED - when a pattern is random, or not evenly laid out.
MUD CLOTH (Bògòlanfini) - Malian cloth dyed by a process of burying it in fermented mud with high iron content to absorb the minerals from the soil. Usually earth tones
KENTE CLOTH - Fabric from South Ghana which the US usually relates to African motif and attire. Handwoven with silk and cotton. Bright colors and patterns.
MATELASSE - Matelassé (mat-la-SAY) is a weaving or stitching technique yielding a pattern that appears quilted or padded.
STRIPE - the start of everything.
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